Retribution Road by Jon Coon (e reader comics .TXT) 📕

to business, that water is year-round seventy-two degrees,” Gabe said. “Unless they had suits, they’re going to be frozen by now. We need to find a place where they might have gotten out but stayed hidden. See what you can find out,” he told George. “We’ll go to the dive shop and get some gear. Meet us down on the dock.”

Gabe and Mike, who also dove, quickly got the gear they needed, including wet suits and scooters. The staff were friendly and anxious to talk about the excitement of the morning. With a ton of gear in hand, they rejoined George and prepared to dive.

“The next exit point is over a mile,” George informed them. “It’s been searched above and below, and nothing turned up, so they might not have gotten that far.”

“Anything on who the girl is?” Gabe asked.

“No one here has seen her before, and the Zapa Army wasn’t talking.”

“Okay, let’s go find them. We’ll meet you at that exit point. Give us an hour or so.”

“Roger that. Dive safe.”

Mike and Gabe dropped beneath the surface, completed a safety check of their gear, and headed into the tunnel. They both had bright cave lights and backups just in case. They were able to light up the tunnel and follow the gold line at a rapid pace. They looked in every corner, crevice, and crack—anywhere large enough to have hidden two frozen divers. They passed the first two cenotes and saw bullets spent and fallen harmlessly to the bottom. Half an hour passed and then another fifteen minutes. Gabe checked his air and was surprised that he’d only used just less than half the tank. He held his gauge up for Mike to see, who in turn responded in kind. They were good for at least another hour at these shallow depths.

As they approached the third cenote, the bottom dropped deeper, and there was a large crack in the floor. Gabe dumped air and descended. There in the crack, beyond reach, were two scuba rigs and two scooters. Now realizing they had to be close, Gabe motioned Mike to the surface.

“If the Zapa Army is still hanging around, we’ve got to figure out a way to get those kids out of here. Let’s get that gear, and when we find them, we’ll come out like we’re all one group.”

“Good idea. I’ll call George and let him know we’re close.”

“You’ve got your phone?”

Mike held up a sealed plastic box containing his phone. “Always,” he said with a grin.

“Man, you can dive on my team anytime.”

“Thanks. Now let’s do this thing.”

They dropped back to the bottom and the crevasse with the gear. Gabe knelt on the bottom and ditched his rig. He took a final breath and crawled down the tight space, barely reaching the first scuba rig. He tried the regulator for a breath and got nothing. He tried the tank valve and was delighted to hear air rush into the hoses. A quick breath and a stream of bubbles as he exhaled on his crawl back up. Mike grabbed the rig and set it to the side. The same exercise produced a scooter and then the second rig and finally the last scooter. They carried the gear up from the deeper water toward the shallows. Sunlight was fading, and the last of the snorkelers had ascended the wooden stair. Gabe swept the bottom with his cave light and saw nothing. “Come on, you have to be here.”

Paul saw the lights approaching and tried to wake Angelica. She was sleeping deeply, probably comatose, and didn’t respond. That scared him even more than the approach of the dive lights. He tried to move farther out of the water, but there was nowhere to go. This was it. He’d been afraid to leave her while there were others in the water and on the stair. Now he was too exhausted from the cold to move. But he would protect her to the end. He turned his back to the lights and wrapped her limp body in his arms.

More terrified than he had ever been, he prayed harder than he had ever imagined possible: “God, I’m a sinner in need of a savior. Help us, please. Please don’t let them get her.”

Gabe moved in under the dock. Anything was possible. The sweep of his light revealed nothing, and he started to turn and leave when he realized it was the best hiding place they’d seen thus far. He surfaced and scanned the sand. There, crouched in the darkness, was a body.

“Paul?” he said quietly. And then repeated his question a bit louder. “Paul?”

The body moved and shielded his eyes from the intense light. “Don’t hurt her, please. Do what you want with me, but don’t hurt her.”

“Paul, it’s me, Gabe. Come on, son. We’ve got to get you out of here.”

Tom was leaving the truck when he got the call.

“We’ve got Paul and the girl. They’re severely hypothermic, but we’re warming them up now. He’s not talking yet, but they had Zapatista Army on their tails. That’s got to be a good story. Where do you want to meet?”

“Come to the hangar. We know where the Benson kids are. I just sent a squad to get them.”

“Good work,” Gabe said. “Did you get anything else?”

“Yep. Enough to light up the skies at least tonight. Get those kids here, and we’ll get ready to go home.”

“Roger that. On the way.”

Tom disconnected and took a second cell from his pocket. The one he used only to call Maria.

Maria looked at the number and hesitated to answer. It wasn’t going to be an easy conversation. On Tom’s second try, she answered.

“It’s me. It’s time to go. Things are too dangerous for you to stay. We’re poking the bear in the eye.”

“I know. He’s furious. I’ve never seen him like this. He wants to destroy you.”

“Too bad. I’m just getting started, but I need you out of there. I have to